Prior to 1863 when lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, the central issue for the north was not slavery, but what?
a. preserving the union.
b. maintaining the system of indentured servatude.
c. balance of power of legislatures within states.
d. leadership of the soutern convention.

The correct answer is A) Preserving the Union.

When Lincoln was elected president in 1860, he wanted to keep the Union together. This is why he did not want to try to abolish slavery where it existed. Rather, he was an advocate of stopping the institution from spreading to new territories that the United States was adding during this era of westward expansion.

a big one is

to appoint and regulate officers of the land and naval forces,

which caused much controversy ending the articles